Welcome to London!

Welcome to London!

China expands further into Western Europe with arrival of its first rail freight train to London.   The resurrection of the centuries old Silk Road trade routes between China and the West took one more step towards fruition earlier this month with the arrival of...
How Will Brexit Affect the International Shipping Industry?

How Will Brexit Affect the International Shipping Industry?

The UK plans to begin formal Brexit (the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union) negotiations by the end of March 2017 says the BBC. Nobody knows how fast changes will come and what exactly those changes will be. The EU has no procedures established...
Will Iran Become a Logistical Hub?

Will Iran Become a Logistical Hub?

Following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement, there has been a progressive removal of key UN trade sanctions impending the economic growth of Iran and its accessibility to the region. The removal of these sanctions...
Shipping Industry Consolidation Spreads to Asia

Shipping Industry Consolidation Spreads to Asia

To date, 2016 has been one of most transformative years in the shipping industry. Ocean liner over-capacity (Wall Street Journal cites 30% over-capacity of ships on open water) and a less-than-stellar world economy have driven shipping rates lower and lower forcing...
To our clients, we thank you

To our clients, we thank you

With the holidays coming to an end and the New Year right around the bend, we at TOC wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude to you, our customers.   The supply chain sector is fast becoming unpredictable at best. In a market such as this, there are many...
Tactical Planning and TOC – What We Stand for

Tactical Planning and TOC – What We Stand for

When it comes to the supply chain industry, the word tactical is everywhere. Tactical strategy, tactical shipment execution, tactical planning, etc. The word seems very important, but what does it really mean?   Here’s the Merriam-Webster definition:   of or...

Mega-Ships and Their Potential Impact

Just one decade ago, it was commonplace to see 2,000-4,000 TEU (20 ft. equivalent container unit) ships from multiple carrier lines crossing trade routes around the world. That’s what many US port terminals are built for – but times, they are changing. Carrier...
When it Rains it Pours: The TOC Approach to Unpredictable Weather

When it Rains it Pours: The TOC Approach to Unpredictable Weather

We know, it’s the last thing anyone wants to deal with and something we all tend to underestimate – the weather. In the shipping industry, preparing for the weather is central to any logistical strategy. There must be a plan A (and plan B) for when weather takes a...
What financial health of ocean carriers means to you

What financial health of ocean carriers means to you

The aftermath of the Hanjin bankruptcy hasn’t been pretty. The financial state of that company is reflective of the challenges many ocean lines are grappling with today. In the face of financial uncertainty, fear is something easily ignited and rumors only fan the...